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{$variable} can be used in the _Print text_ property of breakpoints to display value of some variable but there is no way how an ordinary user can find that fact. It should be written somewhere in the documentation.
Bug assigned to the module owner.
User can find this fact in User's Guide|Chapter 3|Debugging Java Classes|Breakpoints
Resolved for 3.3.x or earlier, no new info since then -> closing.